Legislative Report

by Nicole Piscitani • June 24, 2024

This is the last week that the Ohio General Assembly is scheduled to have sessions and committees before what could be an extended break. It is still unknown when the Ohio House and Ohio Senate will return to the Statehouse in the fall. Both chambers have numerous committees scheduled, and those committees are focused on moving important bills out of the committee to go to the floor for a vote.

An important bill, not only for education but for many organizations from around the state, is the capital budget. The capital budget is…

by Nicole Piscitani • June 5, 2024

The prior Legislative Report focused on bills that were moving in the Ohio House. This issue will look at bills that either recently passed in the Senate or could potentially pass in the Senate.

Senate Bill (SB) 208
This bill passed out of the Senate in late May and still needs to work its way through the Ohio House. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kristina D. Roegner…

by Nicole Piscitani • May 22, 2024

The Ohio General Assembly is scheduled to continue its work until June 26. After that it is unknown when the Ohio House and Ohio Senate will return to the Statehouse. The Ohio legislature typically takes a summer recess during an election year to allow incumbents running for reelection time to campaign in their districts. This election year there are several factors impacting the legislative calendar and, more importantly, legislative activity.

One of those factors is the change in several committee chairmanships. House Speaker…

by Nicole Piscitani • April 26, 2024

The Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform reconvened to learn the complexities of school funding. The panel of legislators heard invited testimony from Michael Sobul, a retired research administrator with the Ohio Department of Taxation and former treasurer for the Granville EV School District. Sobul provided historical knowledge and a detailed explanation of the portions of the Ohio Constitution that govern property tax laws and, in particular, the funding that school districts receive through inside and…

by Nicole Piscitani • April 12, 2024

Gov. Mike DeWine delivered his annual State of the State address on Wednesday, April 10. This year’s address focused solely on children, including initiatives to focus on child care, access to medical services, foster care and education. The education-specific initiatives that DeWine discussed are outlined below.

Science of Reading
The Science of Reading is an initiative that DeWine focused heavily on during his 2023 State of the State. He successfully inserted this policy change into House…

by Nicole Piscitani • March 22, 2024

The Ohio legislature is on break following the March 19 primary election and is expected to return to Columbus the second week of April to resume committee and floor sessions. Gov. Mike DeWine will hold his State of State address on April 10 when he will discuss accomplishments and announce new areas of focus. This will be the first State of State address since the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce moved from oversight by the State Board of Education (SBOE) to the governor. DeWine could provide an update on the…

by Nicole Piscitani • March 9, 2024

The General Assembly has had lighter than usual activity this year and, based on the House and Senate planned session days, legislative activity will remain light.

One item that remains in flux is the capital appropriations bill. The Ohio House and Ohio Senate have approached the process differently this year than in the past.

During even-numbered years, the legislature typically passes a capital appropriations bill that will allocate funds for certain projects throughout the state. The preparation of the state’s six-year…

by Nicole Piscitani • Feb. 9, 2024

At the direction of Gov. Mike DeWine, a group of 13 partnering groups and individuals were asked to serve on a panel to review the state's school bus-related regulations and safety requirements. The group convened in August 2023 and actively met throughout the fall as they examined a wide range of school bus safety areas, including:

• school bus regulations;
• bus design, maintenance and inspections;
• driver licensing, certification and training;
• safety technology;
• crash risk…

by Nicole Piscitani • Jan. 25, 2024

The Ohio Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform held its second meeting and focused the discussion by inviting the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and four auditors from the County Auditors' Association of Ohio (CCAO). The county auditors who participated in the discussion were:

• Andrea Weaver, Union County auditor
• Jill Davidson, Athens County auditor
• Ronald O'Leary, Cuyahoga County Board of Revision administrator
• Michael Stinziano…

by Nicole Piscitani • Jan. 11, 2024

The Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform held its inaugural meeting on Jan. 10. The committee is made up of 10 legislators, appointed by House and Senate leadership. Those members are:

• Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township), co-chair
• Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield), co-chair
• Sen. George F. Lang (R-West Chester)
• Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Ashtabula)
• Sen. Hearcel F. Craig (D- Columbus)
• Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus)
• Rep. Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville)…